This is Porkchup, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.
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On Monday night I crowded inside the CakeSpy Shop, along with dozens of other cake and pie enthusiasts to decide once and for all, which is better, cake or pie.

There were 10 representatives from each side, and a panel of judges scoring each baked good on crust (or crumb), appearance, and flavor. Contestants brought things like rosemary ricotta lemon cake, chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, blueberry rhubarb pie, peach ginger pie, and cheescake swirled with chipotle chocolate pecan butter. The room smelled amazing.

Once all the cakes and pies arrived, the judges dug in, taking small bites of everything on the table (there were two judges for pie and two judges for cake). Then, the crowd got to sample the goods. That’s when the place turned into a sugar-fueled madhouse. Small paper plates heaped with slices of Italian cream cake, caramel cake, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting were passed over people’s heads. Someone was shouting “Who wants blueberry pie?!” and another woman kept asking the crowd “Who wants an elegant Ding-Dong?” Everyone wanted an elegant Ding-Dong. Some people were wearing Team Cake buttons, while others supported Team Pie. Someone spilled lemonade; someone spilled a spoonful of blackberry filling onto the carpet; someone behind me said “I’m dizzy from all the sugar.”

After over an hour-long feeding frenzy, the winners were announced. There were first, second, and third place finalists in both the pie and cake categories, and then one overall winner. That winner was the deciding factor on the long-standing pie vs. cake argument.

Find out who won, and see 16 delicious photos, after the jump.

This was a honey cake with sour cream frosting. Six layers of magic. It was second place in the cake category.
  • This was a honey cake with sour cream frosting. Six layers of magic. It was second place in the cake category.
This cake was called Gateau Alorange. It smelled delicious.
  • This cake was called Gateau Al’orange.
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The flowers are made with sliced almonds, and there was raspberry jam filling. The cake in the background was a very decadent gluten-free fudge cake.
  • The flowers are made with sliced almonds, and there was raspberry jam filling. The cake in the background was a very decadent gluten-free fudge cake.
The Rhueberry (rhubarb and blueberry) pie won second place in the pie category.
  • The Rhueberry (rhubarb and blueberry) pie won second place in the pie category.
The baker of this carrot cake had to make a fresh cake the morning of the competition because her cat walked on the cake she baked the night before.
  • The baker of this carrot cake had to make a fresh cake the morning of the competition because her cat walked on the cake she baked the night before.
This was a lemony chocolate cake. It took third place in the cake category.
  • This was a lemony chocolate cake. It took third place in the cake category.
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Mini bourbon pecan pies.
  • Mini bourbon pecan pies.
These were called Sweet Bliss but everyone kept referring to them as elegant Ding-Dongs. They had amazing cream filling inside, and the ganache was perfect--not too sweet. They took first place in the cake category.
  • These were called “Sweet Bliss” but everyone kept referring to them as elegant Ding-Dongs. They had amazing cream filling inside, and the ganache was perfect—not too sweet. They took first place in the cake category.
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I do not remember what kind of pie it is, but it looks awesome.
  • I do not remember what kind of pie it is, but it looks awesome.
This is Porkchup, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.
  • This is Porkchop, the pug. He did not eat any cake or pie.
The aftermath.
  • The aftermath.
And the winner is….
This ginger peach pie received a perfect score from all the judges and was declared Best of Show for its expert crust. Its official, Team Pie wins.
  • This ginger peach pie received a perfect score from all the judges and was declared Best of Show for its expert crust. Its official, Team Pie wins.

Megan Seling is The Stranger's managing editor. She mostly writes about hockey, snacks, and music. And sometimes her dog, Johnny Waffles.

36 replies on “Photos From Monday Night’s Cake Vs. Pie Battle at the CakeSpy Shop”

  5. Why did I not know about this??? Where does one find out about such events of vital importance? I don’t remember seeing it in Suggests, but maybe that was my own FAIL…

  7. @5, it was here on Slog.

    Of course Team Pie won, pie is better. And cheesecake is NOT cake; it is not leavened and thus has no cake matter in it (i.e., grossly sweetened bread). Cheesecake should be considered a pie.

  11. P.S. I confess that if one of my cats walked on a cake that I was supposed to take somewhere, I would probably just scrape any fur or paw marks off and do a touch-up with the icing to cover the incident. I am weak and bad, it seems.

  12. I generally prefer cake, but when I saw the words “peach ginger pie” in the first paragraph I thought it sounded like the most delicious thing in the world. Yay, I was right! Now where can I get the recipe?

  17. @15, oh shit, is RM team cake? I have a standing rule that says she’s always right, because she is, especially about food. And yet…cake…pie…CONFLICTED.

  28. Hey, it was great meeting you the other night! I was the bundt cake girl. When I told my boyfriend I met you, he was so impressed/jealous. I didn’t even have to mention your last name, he just knew it!

  35. That pie that you don’t remember the flavor of, but looks amazing was a ‘Bacon Cherry’ pie – Bacon in the crust, cherry filling, all around AMAZING!

  36. Should I feel slighted that you managed to mention the dog, but you didn’t mention the fact that I was brought in to read cake and pie poetry for the event? I’m not taking it personally, but a mention would’ve been nice.

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